Painting Furniture Questions

[martini]

I am thinking of painting our bedroom a gray color based on some inspiration pictures. The issue I'm seeing is that I like it more with black or dark furniture, and we have old oak. We aren't in the financial position to buy new bedroom furniture at this point. Can I paint that furntiure? Any tips for that? I just don't want to paint the walls and not like the way it looks with the furniture...

[wawa]

Of course you can paint the furniture.

As for how:
lmgtfy.com/?q=+furniture+painting+tutorial

Sorry...feeling smartassy this morning.

Anyway...centsational girl's is the most detailed tutorial I've found:
www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/04/how-to-paint-furniture/

[simpsongal]

You definitely don't like the oak, right? I just want to make sure before you paint wood.

Remove hardware, sand off shiny finish, prime w/kitz 1-2-3 or Zinnser's, paint w/satin or semi-gloss.

Good luck! I recommend not doing the pieces in all the same color - break it up a bit.

[thewop]

I recommend using oil based paint. It smells to high heaven, but it holds up really well.

[martini]

Thanks for the replies. We are not particularly partial to the oak, (old, hand me downs from our parents) but I guess I'm nervous to paint it black if it's not going to look nice. That blog post was helpful- thank you!

[midwest07]

Another option is to go for a grey that has warm undertones, more of a greige, then your oak furniture could blend just fine. I didn't look at the tutorial above, but you might be able to use spray paint or chalk paint (which doesn't require primer, I don't believe) - both of those could be quicker/easier than painting everything by hand with primer and paint.

[simpsongal]

You could also restain the furniture a walnut color. It's more work b/c you have to sand off every crevice of existing polyurethane and stain, but it would look nice.

I second the wop, at least for oil-based primer (one that accepts latex over top). Keep in mind, it takes paint ~2 weeks to cure, so go easy on the furniture once it's painted. Also, don't paint if it's under 55 degrees where you are - otherwise paint inside.